Mercury slip rings and method

Abstract

The invention comprises apparatus and a method for establishing electrical connections between stationary and rotating circuitry means of a device via a fluid mercury medium which avoids all previous dangers associated with the use of mercury and mercury vapors, and realizes constant low resistance, reliable, and long lived connections. Liquid mercury is enclosed within a cavity and/or capsule within the device during shipping and storage, and only liberated upon intentional release when activating the device. Sealing of the device against fluid escape employs the use of minimal possible escape paths, machined surfaces and pressure forcing contacting surfaces together. These possible escape paths include a material which will decontaminate the mercury by amalgamation upon contact. A further cavity or capsule in the device contains sufficient decontamination material as to render all of the mercury harmless and is intentionally released prior to disassembly or repair of the device. These many features insure environmental protection.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An input-output device for rotating circuitry, comprising in combination a body; a fluid electrically conductive medium within said body;   rotating means at least partly within said medium;   said body comprising stationary body means in contact with said medium for external connection;   said medium electrically connecting said rotating means to said stationary means;   a plurality of different means for sealing said medium in liquid and in vapor state against release to the environment;   means within the body for confining said medium and means accessible from outside of the body for releasing said medium into said contact with the rotating means and stationary body means; and,   said releasing being accomplished at a point in time only immediately prior to placing said device into utilization.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein; said means for sealing comprises;   material distributed along any potential egress which will amalgamate with said fluid; and   at least one of:   O-ring seals; wave washers; and pressure seals.   
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein said releasing is irreversible and only done once. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for releasing comprises; mechanical means movable into a first position for releasing the confined medium into the sealed region via a port of entry.   
     
     
       5. The device of claim 4 wherein; said mechanical means in a second position being operable to seal said port of entry for said medium.   
     
     
       6. The device of claim 5 wherein; said medium is contained within the sealed region in at least partly liquid state; and said mechanical means pierces the confining means to release vapor from said liquid state and to release the liquid.   
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6 wherein; said medium is mercury.   
     
     
       8. The device of claim 7 comprising; compression means for effecting said sealing.   
     
     
       9. The device of claim 8 wherein; said mercury is contained within a rupturable capsule.   
     
     
       10. The device of claim 9 wherein; said capsule further contains gas.   
     
     
       11. The device of claim 10 further comprising; coatings of a material applied to any possible escape paths from said sealed region;   said mercury, upon release, combining with the coated material of the sealed region to render it harmless.   
     
     
       12. The device of claim 11, further comprising; separate container means for a material adapted for communication with said sealed region to neutralize said mercury upon intentional actuation of said communication.   
     
     
       13. The device of claim 12 wherein; said container means material comprises zinc powder, or sulphur powder, or other material readily combinable with mercury.   
     
     
       14. The method of protecting the environment from mercury contamination when mercury to be utilized as slip ring electrical connections between stationary and rotating components of a device, comprising the steps of: containing the mercury within the device for release when the device is ready to be used;   enclosing a space encompassing a portion of the stationary and rotating components;   releasing the mercury into said space for utilization;   containing a material suitable for decontaminating said mercury; and,   releasing said material into said space prior to disassembly of said device.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein said enclosing comprises; coating every possible escape path from said space with decontaminating material.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein said enclosing further comprises; machining or grinding the contacting faces of abutting parts forming said enclosed space; and, applying compressing force to said parts to seal the contacting faces.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 wherein; said compressing force is supplied by a wave washer which also seals.   
     
     
       18. Apparatus for applying electrical energy across a gap, comprising in combination; a body member having body slip rings;   a rotatable member having rotatable slip rings for location adjacent the body slip rings to leave said gap;   fluid mercury contained in a cavity in said body for disposition in said gap;   multiple means including compression means for sealing the region around said gap;   said cavity adapted for communication with said region;   means for establishing said communication only once   a further cavity containing a material capable of decontaminating the mercury adapted for communication with said region; and   means for establishing said last mentioned communication prior to disassembly of the members.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein; the sealing means comprise a coating of decontaminating material in each possible escape path between said region and the atmosphere.